How do you guys do it?

T

Toymachine2009

New member
Just polished an older transam today and 80 percent of the car was the sides it's a long car with long doors and fenders..



Halfway done and my back was killing me.. Any tips or tricks for side panels. I felt relief when I was doing the hood and trunk. It would be nice if I could take off each panel and lay it flat..
 
I just turn a bucket upside down and sit on that. If the car is very low I just sit on the ground for the lower most sections. The first few times you do it, you will get sore since your body is not used to it. After a while you get used to it.
 
ExplicitDetails said:
I just turn a bucket upside down and sit on that. If the car is very low I just sit on the ground for the lower most sections. The first few times you do it, you will get sore since your body is not used to it. After a while you get used to it.
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thanks. i hope so!
 
I sit on a (nicely padded) pneumatic stool, which allows me to change the height as needed. But yeah, sometimes I have to either sit on the floor or sit/lie on a creeper to do the lowermost areas.
 
This would be difficult to do if you are mobile but jacking a car up off the ground helps alot. I will often do that and sit on the ground so that I am not hunched over, instead I am sitting upright which helps a ton. I have thought about getting one of those seats you see people take to football games with bleachers so they can lean back. If I got one, I would put in on the ground and use the back as support for my back.
 
Catcher's squat usually. Staying in shape physically helps too. So does detailing regularly, which strengthens the muscles you use daily.
 
Keep back straight, very first thing I learn in detailing hehe. Kneel on soft pad with one knee, foot on ground and switch this as you movearound car.
 
Accumulator said:
I sit on a (nicely padded) pneumatic stool, which allows me to change the height as needed. But yeah, sometimes I have to either sit on the floor or sit/lie on a creeper to do the lowermost areas.
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The stools are a must have in your arsenal. Streching everyday helps.

Hang in there, you start to get use to it after a while.
 
combo of all the above...but if you're using a DA..sometimes (though most times I really don't need to) I'll use my knees to work as a wall for my elbows so that it's easier to maintain constant pressure; the trick is really to not lose mobility...(obviously if you figure yourself being really awkward then you probably don't want to keep trying.) but generally only works for the lower half of the panels.



You may want to work on your back muscles and your core in general--otherwise people tend to kind of contort their bodies in ways (body trying to compensate for lack of strength) and seriously hurt themselves (slipped/herniated discs are NOT fun nor are pinched nerves, nerve damage etc...)
 
For the knees ---> Google Image Result for http://static.handyguyspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/kneepads.jpg link to buy them --->Our Store



^^^^ those things are amazing on the knees, I have a pair myself. Someone mentioned keeping your back straight, great advice! If you have problems doing this while detailing, try using a belt that power weight lifters use to keep their backs straight. You may be young but if you plan on doing this for a long time then preventative measurements can go a long way.



-hope that helps!
 
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